The boss of aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce does not believe in hydrogen

He predicts that conventional combustion engines will be important for decades to come. “I don’t believe that hydrogen will play a role in the next fifteen to twenty years,” says Erginbilgic. However, Rolls-Royce is working with budget fighter EasyJet on hydrogen technology, but this is a small part of the group.

BP
The head of Rolls-Royce, a former director of oil company BP, aims to quadruple the company’s operating profit. He announced last month that between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs would be cut worldwide to make the company more efficient.

The aviation industry is under increasing pressure to cut emissions. European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is focusing on developing hydrogen engines for this purpose. According to Airbus, the first hydrogen plane will enter service in 2035.

Rolls-Royce also announced plans on Tuesday to sell its electronics division, which makes propulsion systems for aircraft such as flying taxis. According to Erginbilgic, the company must “make a choice about the distribution of funds”. He says that the electricity branch “gives more value to the third party”.

An aircraft engine manufacturer is different from a Rolls-Royce car manufacturer. The automotive division has not been part of an industrial group since the 1970s. Cars from the Rolls-Royce brand have long been produced under the German BMW banner.